Junior and Overall Champion Reserve
Spirits were high to be back in Borderway with a near familiar bull sale experience, being able to get back into the show ring whilst still meeting Covid-19 restrictions.
Across the board, bulls averaged £8302.78 an increase of over £1,950 on 2019, with a clearance rate of 84%. 19 of the top-class bulls on offer make five figures, five of these exceeding 20,000gns.
Topping the trade at 50,000gns was Everpark Partylight from first-time vendors, J & T Waring from Everingham, York. After being placed first in his class by judge Archie Macgregor of the Allanfauld herd and then crowned Intermediate Champion, Partylight shone brightly for many spectators around the ring. This September-2019 born embryo calf is a son of 38,000gns Ampertaine Foreman and the greatly admired Millington Highlight, who was purchased by the herd at the Millington dispersal sale for 50,000gns with a calf at foot. Partylight displays myostatin of F94L and Q204X and a Beef Va
Using the Limousin as a terminal sire over Holstein females to improve the quality and value of the progeny is providing a win win scenario for the Gould family, Grange Farm, Bomere Heath near Shrewsbury. Having milked cows all their lives, the family of Mick and Jean Gould, son Mick and wife Katherine, were looking to a new venture to future proof the business which they run along with three members of staff. The small herd of just 15 pedigree Limousin females plus young stock runs alongside 750 Holstein milkers and young stock. “We believe the Limousin is the top beef breed to produce beef from dairy and suckler herds as they produce easy calving sires and they maximise the more expensive cuts of beef and for lean forequarter beef. The breed has excellent growth rates and food conversion figures,” said Mick, adding that the dairy will always remain the family’s primary focus.